Sorkin R, Gabay T, Blinder P, Baranes D, Ben-Jacob E, Hanein Y
Department of Physical Electronics, School of Electrical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
J Neural Eng. 2006 Jun;3(2):95-101. doi: 10.1088/1741-2560/3/2/003. Epub 2006 Apr 11.
We present a novel approach for patterning cultured neural networks in which a particular geometry is achieved via anchoring of cell clusters (tens of cells/each) at specific positions. In addition, compact connections among pairs of clusters occur spontaneously through a single non-adherent straight bundle composed of axons and dendrites. The anchors that stabilize the cell clusters are either poly-D-lysine, a strong adhesive substrate, or carbon nanotubes. Square, triangular and circular structures of connectivity were successfully realized. Monitoring the dynamics of the forming networks in real time revealed that the self-assembly process is mainly driven by the ability of the neuronal cell clusters to move away from each other while continuously stretching a neurite bundle in between. Using the presented technique, we achieved networks with wiring regions which are made exclusively of neuronal processes unbound to the surface. The resulted network patterns are very stable and can be maintained for as long as 11 weeks. The approach can be used to build advanced neuro-chips for bio-sensing applications (e.g. drug and toxin detection) where the structure, stability and reproducibility of the networks are of great relevance.
我们提出了一种用于对培养的神经网络进行图案化的新方法，其中通过将细胞簇（每组数十个细胞）锚定在特定位置来实现特定的几何形状。此外，成对的细胞簇之间通过由轴突和树突组成的单个非粘附直束自发形成紧密连接。稳定细胞簇的锚定物可以是聚-D-赖氨酸（一种强粘附底物）或碳纳米管。成功实现了方形、三角形和圆形的连接结构。实时监测形成网络的动态过程表明，自组装过程主要由神经元细胞簇相互远离同时不断拉伸其间神经突束的能力驱动。使用所提出的技术，我们获得了布线区域仅由未与表面结合的神经元突起组成的网络。所得到的网络图案非常稳定，可以维持长达11周。该方法可用于构建用于生物传感应用（如药物和毒素检测）的先进神经芯片，其中网络的结构、稳定性和可重复性至关重要。
